Pueblo mother’s dying wishes come true

A patient at Sangre de Cristo Hospice & Palliative Care is getting her dying wishes Thursday night.

Juanita Wilmot, a 38-year-old single mother of two, is battling terminal cancer and been in hospice care for weeks.

When Wilmot was asked how she wanted to spend her final days, her answer was simple.

“Spend some time with my family. Since I’ve been sick and in my bed for a couple months with cancer,” said Wilmot.

Wilmot asked for dinner at her favorite restaurant, Nachos. The family hasn’t been able to have a meal together since Christmas. Staff at Nachos donated all of the meals to the family.

She also wanted to give her children something they could always remember her by.

“I was able to give my daughter a beautiful locket that has an engraving on the back,” said Wilmot.

Staff at the hospice helped the mother pick out necklaces for her kids and had them engraved. All of the money was donated from staff.

“It just really shows how humble she is you know. She’s a great person and doesn’t deserve this. But she doesn’t feel she deserves anything expect to spend time with people she cares about,” said Jadine Wilmot, daughter.

The family was born and raised in Pueblo and say they’re thankful for the community support.

“This is what it’s all about, hospice is about living. It’s not about dying, it’s about the time we have, the precious memories we have. Our staff just really gets behind that every day,” said Lauren Leomiti, director of development at Sangre de Cristo Hospice & Palliative Care.

American Medical Response of Pueblo has donated the transportation as part of its Sentimental Journey program because the mother uses a wheelchair.

“I love you all and thank you for taking such good care of me,” said Wilmot.